(1561 - 1635)
Marcus Gheeraerts the younger was born in Bruges and brought to England by his father, painter Marcus Gheeraerts the Elder, in 1568. He married Magdalena de Critz, sister of painter John de Critz and from c.1590 onwards, under the patronage of Sir Henry Lee, became the most fashionable portrait painter of the day. The Queen sat to him in c.1592, as did her favourite Robert Devereux, Second Earl of Essex, in c.1596. Gheeraerts also became the favourite painter of the subsequent Queen, Anne of Denmark and was receiving commissions from those within the court circle until c.1615-20. However, the painter’s career suffered with the arrival of younger artists from abroad such as Paul van Somer and Daniel Mytens.
